2025
Space milestones
Kayser joins the FAE Technology Group
In December, the first closing for the acquisition of 29.9% of Kayser Italia is completed and the FAE Technology Group’s Space Division is established. Acquisition of the remaining 70.1% is planned for a subsequent phase. 2025 thus marks the start of the new industrial structure.
Kayser delivers the PLATO Instrument Control Unit to ESA
Kayser develops and delivers the Flight Model of the Instrument Control Unit for PLATO, a mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme dedicated to detecting and characterising extrasolar planetary systems. The unit collects and compresses scientific data from the satellite’s 26 telescopes and manages the data interface with the platform for telemetry and telecommands.
Euro Material Ageing returns to Earth
Following installation on the external Bartolomeo platform in 2024, Euro Material Ageing returns to Earth on 15 December 2025 on SpaceX CRS-33. The scientific samples are available for subsequent analyses, while the facility is made available for a second mission, planned for 2026 with new materials and samples.
Biomass takes the first P-band radar into space
ESA’s Earth Explorer satellite is launched to measure forest biomass and estimate the carbon stored in forests. The P-band radar is designed to penetrate tree canopies and collect information on forest structure.
Missions & Payloads
SpaceX CREW-10
Crewed mission to the International Space Station for a long-duration stay. The programme includes scientific research, maintenance, operational activities and technology demonstrations.
BIOFILMS MISSION 4
Fourth campaign of the ESA-Biofilms programme, dedicated to studying bacterial biofilm formation on metal surfaces and the antimicrobial effectiveness of materials such as copper, steel and brass under different gravitational conditions. The experimental units containing microbial samples and treated surfaces are incubated in the KUBIK facility in the Columbus laboratory. Kayser Italia develops the experimental hardware and bioreactors used by the programme.
OCS
Oxygen sensing and control system developed as an upgrade to the Electromagnetic Levitator on the ISS. The name derives from Oxygen Sensing and Control System. It is launched on Cygnus NG-23 on 14 September 2025 and installed on 6 October. Under contract to Airbus and ESA, Kayser Italia develops the control electronics, application and control software, electrical harnesses and interface cables to the European Drawer Rack.
SpaceX CRS-32
Dragon capsule cargo mission to the International Space Station. It transports around three tonnes of supplies and experiments and returns over 1,800 kg of scientific materials to Earth.
IRIS
Wearable personal dosimetry system developed as part of an Italian Space Agency project. It measures in real time the ionising radiation received by the astronaut during normal activities aboard the ISS. The name derives from Large area, wearable Ionizing Radiation dosimeters for real-time crew perSonal monitoring. Data are recorded locally and can be transmitted to the control centre, with the prospect of generating an immediate alarm in the event of overexposure.
CYGNUS NG-23
First mission of the larger-capacity Cygnus XL. It transports over five tonnes of supplies, hardware and experiments to the International Space Station and concludes with a destructive re-entry into the atmosphere.
HEAT TRANSFER HOST 2
ESA facility dedicated to studying heat transfer, evaporation, condensation and fluid behaviour in microgravity. Also referred to as HTH2 or HOST2, it is installed in the European Drawer Rack-2 in the Columbus laboratory. It functions as infrastructure for multiple experiments: different scientific modules can be inserted into the facility and operate autonomously. Planned experiments include Marangoni in Films, Condensation on Fins and studies of droplet evaporation. It is launched on 14 September 2025 aboard Cygnus NG-23 and installed on the ISS on 30 September. Redwire Space leads the programme and is responsible for the overall facility.